Borderland Lawson Analysis

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The Bulletin Debate was a nationwide debate between iconic bush poets Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson depicting their views of the Australian outback. Lawson who became very popular with the Australian public during the time period had what was described as a more realistic and blunt view of the bush. Paterson on the other hand who has shaped Australia’s outlook on bush life had a more optimistic and heartfelt view of the nation’s countryside which has now become a major part of Australia’s identity. In the opening poem ‘Borderland’ by Lawson Paul Keating’s Eulogy entitled ‘Funeral Service of the Unknown Soldier’ that was delivered on Rememberance Day 1993 honours the memory of the Unknown Australian Soldier that was killed in World War One. Keating effectively…show more content…
The juxtaposition implies that the honest soldier was taken in, or fooled by the glamour of fighting for the British Empire. This part of the speech shows evidence for a relationship between Julius Caesar as Antony orates a subtext to the Roman crown over Caesar’s dead body which stirs them up to riot while he pretends to tell them the opposite. Keating subtly promotes the idea that the death of 100,000 lives is an exchange for solely what he describes as just a ‘legend’. In relation to Julius Caesar like Antony, Keating also uses several contradictions when forcing the listeners to ponder on the possibility that the Unknown Soldier did die in vain and just for a ‘legend’, and therefore stir up ill-feelings against the monarchy that led to this waste of a human life. He quickly counters the surface issue and promotes the notion of ANZAC Spirit, enforcing the Australian people to have confidence to believe that Australia will achieve ‘true nobility’
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